Novenas
Novenas
Discover more about novenas and find one to pray.
LIST OF NOVENAS TO PRAY
A novena is a 9-day devotion. Linked are the available novenas.
About Novenas
Intercession
Novenas are part of our rich Catholic heritage. As we say the prayers, we ask for a saint’s intercession for a specific intention. Even though saints cannot directly help us, they can add their prayers to ours as we pray together to God for our request. Their prayers are valuable because they are holy and close to God.
Nine Days of Prayer
Novenas begin nine days before the feast or solemnity, which falls on the tenth day. Since we say the prayers for nine days in a row, we can understand the significance of its name because the Latin root word novem means nine.
While these prayers are popular near a feast day, we can ask for a particular need with a novena prayer at any time.
Will Our Prayers be Answered?
We pray novenas with a specific intention in mind. Yet, there is no more guarantee of the answer you want than other types of prayers.
Even Christ Himself prayed, Father if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done. (Luke 22: 42)
We pray with trust that God knows what is best for us.
The First Novena
By the 19th Century, the Catholic Church began bestowing indulgences on specific novenas.
Who Prayed the First Novena?
Jesus asked the Apostles and disciples to pray in preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They prayed for nine days, and this time of prayer before Pentecost was, in fact, the first novena.
Nine Days of Prayer
They “devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14) for nine days until Pentecost, when they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
At His Resurrection
After His Resurrection, Jesus announced to His Apostles that, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (Acts 1:5).
At His Ascension
At the time of His Ascension into Heaven, He directed them to pray, telling them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit would come upon them. (Acts 1:8) Jesus said that they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.
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CREDITS
The LOGO image of Our Lady of Grace is original artwork by Martin Lariviere in 2009. We have the artist’s permission (my son). It is our exclusive trademark logo image.
Raphael painted The Sistine Madonna circa (1513-1514). We made circular cut-outs from the original image.
Bible verses are from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
Carlo Esteban Murillo painted St. Joseph and the Child Jesus circa 1670 to 1675.
Sebastiano Ricci painted The Resurrection of Christ circa 1715.
Adriaen Van der Werff painted this lively depiction of Pentecost in 1711.
The Photo of St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican is a public domain image.
Our information is from general knowledge, experience, and shared internet sources. We’d like you to use it as a starting point for your research to verify facts and build a reference list.
IN REVIEW
We have several novenas to choose from. They can be to prepare for a feast day, solemnity, or any time.
Novenas begin nine days before a feast or solemnity, which falls on the tenth day. Since we say the prayers for 9 days in a row, we can understand the significance of its name because the Latin root word novem means “nine”.
While these prayers are popular near a feast day, we can ask for a particular need with a novena prayer any time.
Jesus asked the Apostles and disciples to pray in preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They prayed for nine days, and this time of prayer before Pentecost was, in fact, the first novena.
They devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus. (Acts 1:14) for nine days until Pentecost.